On July 12, 2009, an eBay auction closed for an 1864 copper United States Two Cent piece, bearing the inscription (possibly engraved or stamped) "W.H. Phelan."

The URL for that auction is linked from this posting. Since that auction listing will likely expire from eBay at some point, here's the text of that listing:

"Up for bidding is a very nice circulated 2 cent piece from 1864!! It has light to moderate wear but most lines are still visible. This coin has the name W. H. Phelan engraved in the back..I'm not sure why. Ask me any questions you have. Thank you!!"

One of the photos from that listing - the one which shows the inscription most clearly - has been archived to Flickr, and is also linked from this post. (Note that in that inscription, the initials and periods "W.H." appear to be run together.) If for some reason that image URL changes, the Flickr page for that image is http://www.flickr.com/photos/aron/3715014550/

One wonders if one of the young men discussed in this thread may have inscribed this coin, or arranged to have it inscribed? Or if that might have been initiated by another person with that name, if any?